Capital Title’s Chris Baca Speaks for TLTA Title Tips: Spousal Property After Death: Separate vs. Community in Texas

–November 1st, 2025–

Capital Title’s Chris Baca, Client Services Counsel, provided TLTA with his own Title Tip — TLTA’s monthly video series offering quick, complimentary education from title professionals across Texas. Chris breaks down a key question that often arises when a spouse has passed away: Who actually owns the home?

In this short, practical Title Tip, Chris walks through the essential factors to consider when determining ownership and preparing a clean file, including:

• A simple framework to verify ownership before you open or clear a file

• The three dates that drive your analysis — purchase, marriage, and death

• How to distinguish separate property from community property

• Why the “surviving spouse gets it all” assumption can cause problems

• How Texas intestacy rules come into play when there are children from outside the marriage

Capital Title of Texas, LLC.

2023 2024 2025 appreciation austin awards bill shaddock capital title capital title of texas community community involvement congratulations Continuing Education corporate culture ctot dallas business journal dceo dfw education employees Events grand opening growing growth happy employees houston leadership Market new employees new hires new office new offices News News Publications out and about Shaddock shaddock companies shaddock family success Texas thank you the shaddock companies tracy mcmahon tx welcome